Monday, January 28, 2013

The Policy

20 somethings

AvantGarb used to be populated by 40 something and 50 something women ----but, the times they are a'changing. Now there are very talented, really attractive and very funny 20 somethings bringing the mascots to life....and the 20 somethings have a following of other very talented and really attractive and very funny 20 somethings. There has been an uptick of visitors coming through our door. They come to see their friends, check out the scene at AvantGarb or sometimes they come just to be near an object of affection.

Anne's sketch of the 20 somethings and me at AvantGarb

Which is what happened a few days ago. A young woman came by to check out the place ---but really to stare and swoon at the object of her affection. The woman wasn't leaving.I realized I was going to have to make a policy.

The Policy

So bless the young woman with a huge crush on one of the GarbGangGuys. Because of her, AvantGarb now has a policy - drop-by visits are 5 or 10 minutes. We've written a script to ease visitors out of the door. It goes something like this:"Oh sweetie, I'm delighted you stopped by. Here, have some magnetic googlie eyes. I have to get back to the serious business of making mascots. See you later. Bye"

The Swoon

Each day, we are busy falling in love with the character we are bringing to life. We make real objects in the real world. We sculpt and form and plan and sew all the facets of a character so that in can walk and wiggle and move through the world - or at least a stadium or community gathering. It is consuming. We are swooning for the mascot - we are in our day, and that day is one of creative collaboration.

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About Me

Somebody has to bring the mascots to life, and that someone is me. Everything in my life lead to making mascot. My1st crush was Mighty Mouse.
I've lived all over the world, I've hung out with artists in Mexico, Seattle (when it was gorgeous and cheap!) and, of couse NYC. I've been in MoMA shows, the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian, gallery shows and alternative Lower East Side performance pieces.
I learned how to make wild costumes like the Sexy Salmon with Friends of the Rag in Seattle in the 70's, I was a studio artist back in the day at PS1 (now part of MoMA) in NYC.
I started AvantGarb in my Berkeley garage. It has turned into one of the snazziest mascot companies in the country. We now make mascots for major companies & corporations all over the world.
I've been married forever and have 2 always fascinating daughters.